MAYOR ON THE FRONT LINE: Democracy in Crisis - BBC Africa Eye documentary
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 มี.ค. 2024
- Since being elected in 2018, Freetown mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr has won international plaudits for her commitment to fighting the myriad challenges facing the capital of Sierra Leone, one of Africa’s poorest countries.
But during her bid for re-election for a second term, she finds herself on the front line of a democratic crisis. As election season ramps up, her campaign faces intimidation, violence and international concerns over the integrity of the election process.
Mayor on the Front Line follows Aki-Sawyerr as she confronts the hard realities of politics in a country still scarred by the horrors of a bloody civil war.
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With unique access to Aki-Sawyerr, her team and family, this film offers unique insight into not only the highs and lows of Sierra Leonean politics, but also the personal cost of a life in political limelight.
Filmed over the course of a year, this #BBCAfricaEye documentary follows Aki-Sawyerr through the toughest period of her political career as she fights to win a second term in the midst of one of Sierra Leone’s most fiercely contested elections.
📰 READ more: "Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr - the tree-planting mayor of Sierra Leone's capital Freetown" ➡ bbc.in/3T0lgWU
🎧 LISTEN to the #AfricaDaily podcast: "How tough is it being Freetown’s opposition mayor?" here ➡ bbc.in/49zq8cH
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Africa Eye brings you original, investigative journalism revealing secrets and rooting out injustice in the world’s most complex and exciting continent. Nothing stays hidden forever.
🎞️ Check out all #BBCAfricaEye investigations here: bit.ly/bbcafricaeye
Credits:
Produced, Directed and Filmed by PAUL MYLES and CHRIS WALTER
Editor - DANNY COLLINS
Producer - ABDUL SAMBA BRIMA
Production Manager - JILLIAN VAIZEY
Music - 19 SOUND, ARTISTS FOR PEACE SIERRA LEONE
Additional Camera - IBRAHIM S. KAMARA
Drone Footage - MICHAEL DUFF and IBRAHIM S. KAMARA
Archive - AYV TV, AFP TV, BBC NEWS, BBC WORLD SERVICE, GATES FOUNDATION
With thanks to FREETOWN MEDIA CENTRE
Post Production Facility - ROUNDTABLE POST PRODUCTION
Colourist - PAUL KOREN
Online Editor - JOE HEATH
Re-Recording Mixer - DAN WEINBERG
Dialogue and Sound Editor - ANDREW HARRIS
Conform Artist - TOM STOW
Head of Workflow - EMMA CORBETT
Post Producer - LAKSHYA UPADHYAYA
Post Production Coordinator - GEORGIA REILLY
For the BBC:
Online Editor - CHRIS STOTT
Reversioning Producer - ANNA PAYTON
Digital Producer - TAMASIN FORD
Impact Producer - ADELLE KALAKOUTI
Social Media Producer - ANUSHA KUMAR
Production Coordinator - SARAH CLARKE
Production Manager - SIMON FROST
Executive Producers - PETER MURIMI, NICOLA MILNE
Head of Longform - LIZ GIBBONS
Africa Eye Editor - TOM WATSON
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Website: www.bbc.com/africa
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Twitter: / bbcafrica
Instagram: / bbcafrica
#SierraLeone #Democracy #Freetown #WomenInPolitics #WomenInLeadership #Documentary #CimateChange #BBC100Women #AfricaNews #BBCAfrica
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I thought we've lost it all. Until after watching this documentary. This woman is an iron lady and she is one of the most brilliant and brave women of our time. She is fearless and ready to work for a better change in Sierra leone and the world. God will continue to bless guide and protect you and your family.
Mayor Yvonne Aki- sawyer she really a courageous woman. Am so fascinated by her courageous act. Much love from your fellow freetownian.❤
A family that prays. Husband praying on / for wife superb. Madame Mayor, you are highly favored. God continue to bless you 🙏 🙌
Protect this woman at all costs. Inspiring.
Protect her for what exactly? She's lying on the media after failing our city as a major
Sending love from Uganda. Your courage is inspirational Aki Sawyer. Happy International women's day to u Iron Lady
This is a politician I’m WILLING to donate.
I believe Madam Aki-sawyer’s resilience and determination for change needs to be acknowledged, she embodied grace and poise. She is indeed a trailblazer ❤
😭😭😭😭That prayer scene teared me out even more
Now I see why all I did was thank her family for being her strong support and all their sacrifices last year in Maryland. Thx again for the invite Morgan Family
Indeed!😢
Same with me. She’s a strong woman indeed. I admire her courage.
They’ve been praying since independence but I’m yet to see the results of all these prayers 🤦🏿♂️
@@jenebamansaray3893 yes 👍 oh. True ironlady and woman of Faith.
Unimaginable strength of character and personal sacrifice. Madam Mayor, we thank you.
Watching this tears all over me and nervous to see a woman treated with such hate😢😢😢😢😢😢
Omg, I can't stop crying. This is very heartbreaking for out Nation. Thank you so much Madam Mayor for such a wonderful documentary. History will remember this. May God bless you Ma.
She's a fail mayor all she offers freetonian is cheap politics and propaganda
Watching this I almost cried when the mayors driver was explaining to her 😢😢😢. This woman stood for Freetown and we love and appreciate you. She could have spent time with her family but she chooses Sierra Leone through all this😢😢😢
We need more of mayor Yvonne in Africa! Who love their country as much as the people at large and ready to fight for the truth and stand on it!! God bless Africa ❤
Lol
Very beautiful documentary featuring a very brave woman. Watching from Cameroon.
We need such ppl in our country Cameroon
Sierra Leone, since independence has struggled with experimenting democracy, and this documentary is just one brilliant example of why democracy is on trial or in crisis. We hope it get better with the next generation.
Democracy is mob rule. Before the coup in the USA, we were a a Constitutional Republic, a nation of laws of the people, by the people, and for the people.
Well done Mayor! You are a great woman.
This story is not unique to Sierra Leone, we see it everywhere in struggling democracies. Hoping that the bravery of Mayor Yvonne Aki- Sawyer and her amazing supporters will inspire others
She is amazing!! What an inspirational woman ❤ totally support her & I pray she does more great things for Sierra Leone
I am 3 days late viewing this remarkable footage of a woman a lioness who didn't just want to be in the frame but someone with a passion for her people her fellow citizens a sacrifice as huge as the one she made all in the name of her country Sierra Leone....continue to pray as a family as we have seen.... you are there because it is God's will dont give up....we are proud of you from a sister across the continent 🇹🇹🇸🇱
#a true humanitarian
Triggered me right back to the last elections in Nigeria. Africa oh Africa
And blame it on colonial masters???!
@@asitis7624 it can be traced back to that
@@bokangmotsoane1259 That's a stretch
Change begins from the top. As a Sierra Leonean, Freetown has not changed. The initiatives, programs, project she speaks about has not affected the average person in Freetown. It’s nice that she’s trying though, which is different from past mayors.
Agreed
Paopa boys gave her chance to work?
She is the best mayor
Freetown is definitely the opposite of free.
What the opposition and ordinary citizens are going through here is terrible
Una stop dis cheap propaganda n portraying ur country in a negative light to the world..if only u guys (opposition) can be patriotic for once, then our problems in Salone will be solved. Too much selfishness and lawlessness just because ur party is not in power 😏
Future President of Sierra Leone in the making 🙏🏿
I am tempted to believe this as well but does she have enough votes in the provinces? I suppose if people simply vote based on their party's candidate(and not based on tribe) then she will be our first female President.
As a Sierra Leonean born, I hope so. Sierra Leone as a whole is on her neck and can't breath. Lots is extremely wrong in mama Salon.
@@Koiva232she has the means of getting the votes..she can lie for the world 😂
@@kumbish1021You see we understand where you are coming from ,trust me you are not Sierra Leonean
😢😢😢😢It’s inhumane what You’ve gone through our beloved Mayor of #Freetown The #Treetown
But God Got you Madam @YvonneAkiSawyerr . Aka my big sister from another mother.Keep on Keeping on
Amen
She answered her true calling and God will continue blessing her for that🙏🏿
This is definitely what we’ve expected…. Thank you her worship. God bless Sierra Leone 🇸🇱
She is an icon and please don't given to those that don't want the future of our beloved mama sierra leone. Please run for president.❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ You madam mayor
Thank you Madam Mayor.
Truly love her big time. One day I would like to meet her. I truly love My country 🇸🇱.
Our beloved mayor of Freetown you are indeed a strong woman....for you to went through all this in a so called democratic country is a shame....continue doing your good work for mama salone, and may God bless you.
You're a strong and brave woman thank you for being this strong for our life and our nation... Thank you for believing in yourself that you can do it and get our nation back to better days we all are wishing for.. Don't give in because our nation need people like you to grow... The prayer scene get me crying 😭 it shows how deep on tough path you had passed through
I am praying for us thank you , mayor Sawyer I am coming to join you .
The people's Mayor ❤❤❤❤
I never knew about this leader until this morning. The gains of democracy in Africa in the past decade or so have suffered so badly that many Africans are losing hope. Aki-Sawyer is my new champion for democracy and hope for Africa. She gets my vote ❎
She’s a tribalist bigot fraud.
Madame Major you are highly blessed, ❤ please continue the marvelous job that you are doing.
@mayor Aki Sawyer we love you and you are a true heroine ❤❤❤🇸🇱🇸🇱🇸🇱🇸🇱
Such a relief, at least she speak out our cry.🙏🏾 Our voice has shot down completely for expressing our mind. May God protect you, because they’ll definitely come after you and stress you the more while working under their government.🤦🏾♂️🇸🇱🇸🇱🇸🇱🇸🇱🇸🇱🇸🇱🇸🇱🇸🇱🇸🇱🇸🇱
Freedom for democracy raising again. AMENNNNN
The Mayor is very vibrant but the hood loom government won’t let her to do her job. Keep flying the flag Madam!
Am still unable to finish this documentary
Seeing our mayor risking the life of her daughter just to get a better Sierra Leone is indeed real love😢😢😢😢.
This woman sacrificed everything for Sierra Leone
Thank you mum😢😢😢😢
Bo duya nor kill Mi wit laff. Dis mayor hypocrite lek dutty shimi.
Mr/ miss righteous what have you done for mama Salone
Keep the good work Mayor GOD we protect you and your family
📰READ more: "Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr - the tree-planting mayor of Sierra Leone's capital Freetown" ➡ bbc.in/3T0lgWU
🎧LISTEN to the #AfricaDaily podcast: "How tough is it being Freetown’s opposition mayor?" here ➡ bbc.in/49zq8cH
Pin it
@@kingjosh1630agreed. It should definitely be pinned
You are nothing but bunch of bais journalists
@@shekudukuray2926padi bo sidom yanda
watching this made me cry , after all we went through during war .
Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, we support you.
VERY SAD HOW Sierra Leone HAS TO GO THROUGH SUCH INJUSTICE, VERY HUMBLE AND LOVERLY PEOPLE THAT DESERVES BETTER.
This is reminding us of pains 😢💔
I live in Freetown and I have to say this is a very well made documentary
Thank you for telling her/our story ❤
Freetown is dirty I was in Freetown last year, 2023 there is no development, and there is no water is such a shame and disgrace.
Thank you we need democracy in Sierra Leone
Tears literally fall from my eyes watching this
This is not politics, it’s criminal behaviour how on earth you did this to your people. After all you said you’re father of democracy shm sad nation 😭😭😭😭😭 only God can save Sierra Leone 🇸🇱 Amen 🙏
Such a brave woman. I'm just speechless.
Thank you for sharing, a very emotional documentary.
Freetown do not look or feel like a city. It is so disappointing
Good leadership God bless you madam mayor 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🇸🇱
Thank you for this
This is what all diaspora African should do going back n fighting for change,not sitting fwaaa in yurope
God Bless you, Mayor Aki Sawyer, well put together
Oppression, brutality, killings..... just to silence the voice of truth. It happens everyday in Africa. It's as bad, if not worse here in Nigeria. Our last election was proof of that.
With things like this happening, how does Africa intend to get respected in the league of nations??? Great job madam Mayor. Keep this woman at all costs Sierra Leone. She's a beacon of hope.
Yvonne you are a strong and bold woman. I love you and may the Lord continue to protect you, Keep and give you all you need to achieve your aim in Jesus Mighty Name.❤🙏🛐❤️
I cry watching this may god continue to bless you mama 😢😭🙏❤️
My goodness 😭😭😭😭😭what a story she's really a STRONG WOMAN
Well put together!👍 Very sad 😢. The truth and justice shall prevail in the Name of Jesus 🙏🏽. I pray for a New Sierra Leone and all those with good intentions for our nation…👏🏻. Well done, madam Mayor!!!👌🙏🏽❤️
Sierra Leone is truly amazing. and i think both parties have actually done well if we have camera behind the scenes as was done for aki sawyer. No one put camera on their dark side. in my years in Sierra Leone and being involved with the elite. its so hard to move forward for any party without being a bit voilent. why? Nothing is done in sierra leone without the idea of politics and tribalism. Aki-Sawyer is amazing but the attack towards her will be based on the actions of other members of her party and the reaction of the opposite party. overall amazing people but always in the need to please the West having no voice of their own. 7+ million People with huge resources and high uneducated numbers with even poor quality educators. they focus on the very unimportant issues mostly that does not bring long term economic growth. Sierra Leone can be an African Singapore.
i agree with you and sierra leone’s potential seeing that my two parents are from there. There are so much opportunities in many sectors and as the diaspora it is frustrating to see no progress. Hopefully there is a change that changes salone for the better.
It's really pathetic a country where they said is a democracy, Is like civil war 🇸🇱🇸🇱😭😭
May God bless you and you always put salone fos
Thank you madam mayor, we the youth are hoping freetown can transform again into a better and beautiful nation...🇸🇱🇸🇱🇸🇱🇸🇱
Politics is the worst thing to ever happen to Africa 😭😭😭
Not politics....Democracy is....Black people are too emotional & tribal
Democracy you mean
@@s.tanh9818 go learn the history of europe. See how violent it was and still is. No moral authority over anyone else.
I never knew how dangerous it was to go into politics in my country - Sierra Leone, but thankfully, as a youth I can choose to serve this nation better in other sectors that are less life-threatening and intimidating.
😭 😭
agreed 💯..
This documentary is wonderful
I could not help but think of Michelle Obama when I was watching this documentary she reminds me of her and she's so inspiring. May God bless and protect Mayor Yvonne.❤❤
You gonna make history in Sierra Leone the journey has just started... Presidential seat waiting for you in the feature... Inshallah 🙏
I hope she does something about the environment of Freetown...
You indeed a strong woman you have left an indelible mark in the political landscape in Sierra Leone. Keep pushing can’t wait to see you declaring for presidency come 2028. Women power! Women power!
I pray for us
Yvonne has always had SL’s best interest at the core of her heart. Met her over 15 years ago before her political endeavours and even then she was working hard for SL. May our maker keep you strong and well equipped to better our beloved SL🙏
She is really strong
I’m experiencing multiple emotions of great pride to have a woman fight, represent herself and her country so well. I’m embarrassed. Embarrassed that she has so much more courage than me. And then I feel a wave of anger that with all her talent and willingness to serve she has faced such opposition, violence, character assassination and yet she persists! One day, history will do right by her but for now, I pray that likeminded people will come alongside her to work for the good of the country.
This is well said😢
A fantastic job!!!! Continue the good work madam Mayor.
Where is the proof of that work. She is not doing anything for the city of freetown...just using the mayorship to promote herself
What have you done to improve Sierra Leone? focus on what is happening right now in the country. What has the government of the day done since they came to power? Don’t be a fool, think of the future, don’t think of what you’re enjoying today.
Our future president awaiting. History is about to go down in Sierra Leone. She is young and vibrant. Very strong woman 💪🏿💪🏿
Thnx for the documentary
❤Our beloved Mayor of Freetown. You are a wonderful personality and Allah sent you to rescue freetownian may you be blessed 🙌🙏
As a child I watched political movies about sierra leon ,an old and still witnessing instability and turmoil ,may God see them through this for peace and restoration.
So emotional 😭😭😭
Our brothers and sisters you too are suffering that kind corruption nonsense too. I think sey na only us for Nigeria. Na wa ooo
Africa is cursed
My dear we are suffering too in sierra Leone 🇸🇱 the president is killing and stuffing us 😢
Our country is literally hell on earth, the current SLPP government did all they could to stay in power to the extent that they had to manipulate the presidential election results in their favour unfortunately for them the Mayor Akie Sawyer is a hard nut to crack, with all the pain and intimidation she still gets her second term.
So emotional 😭😭😭😭
I can't stop crying after watching this documentary. Intimidating, police brutality, killings and a lot more.
I pray that one day this will change.
My mayor went through hell in the past election I wish her all the best in her new office Yvonne Aki sawyerr a woman of substance indeed happy international women’s day ❤
# ❤ respect to the mayor of freetown 🇸🇱
At least there was not much bloodshed as in Uganda, but it is the same dictatorships working hand in hand singing from the Same hymn book 😢😢, we need to wake up as a continent and fight for democracy otherwise we will never develop and will be facing crisis after crisis. All in all, we'll done Your Highness ❤
It's the alleged democracy that is killing our people. We need to scrap democracy and develop our country and look after our people from a moral and ethical stance. It appears that our so-called leaders are Godless spineless poppets who don't give a damn about the country nor its people smh
Sierra Leon's democracy is sickening right now. Thanks for all those are fighting to make it better.
Great documentary for democracy ❤
So Heart-breaking 💔💔 watching this Strong, African woman cry.and to.see how innocent people were beign shot at..sad.."Doc, Doc, dem thief your result".....same thing happened in Nigeria....!
Untill we Africans develope our own Form of "Democracy" that will include our rich and diverse traditional/culture, beliefs and Heritage, we are bound to fail because we are STILL hell-bent on enforcing Western Form of Democracy that was not meant for African countries or people . African countries populated by people with a Myrads of languages,traditions,cultural and religious diversity all trying to co-exist with one another a MAMMOTH task.....We must re-think. My prayers are with her, and all ❤❤Siera-Leonians❤❤
I pray this actually comes to an end
This was humiliation to the fullest
To be sincere 😢
Thank you for sharing this story ❤
Thanks for watching!
I pray one day that she will become the president of Sierra Leone IJN! she is a hard-working woman .God is in control.
It has enjoyed so called western style democracy, yet the poverty still persists, it is still entrenched. Their lives aren't any better are they?? I am from Zambia but have lived in the UK for 30 years. The BBC is happy to report about the flourishing of democracy, yet it doesn't ask why the poverty in Africa is still so prevalent, nothing is changing only the leaders. I am beginning to question this much vaunted democracy. I am very certain that if China had followed the western model, maybe they would still be poverty stricken... Even here in London where I live I volunteer for a homeless charity every weekend and yet the democracy in Britain cannot resolve homelessness or deal with the housing waiting list. Many people have been on this waiting list for 10 to 15 years, it just boggles the mind..... Even protests don't work anymore do they? It is only the rumblings of revolution that seem to wake rulers up.
Touching experience 😢
May Allah reward you abundantly
Lovely to watch, this will ever remain down in history
Our mayor and future president of 🇸🇱 ❤️